Road Trip – Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-A-Rede, & Bushmills

Yesterday, I went on a road trip to the north coast of the island to some of the most famous sites that Northern Ireland has to offer. The excursion began at the Giant’s Causeway where hexagonal-shaped basalt columns formed during the rapid cooling of molten lava in the area over 60 million years ago. The more interesting story is that Irish mythological giant Finn McCool who got into an argument with a Scottish giant (Fingal) across the Irish Sea. After hurling massive rocks at each other but falling short, the not-so-strong swimmer, McCool began to construct stepping stones across the Irish Sea to Scotland. Either story results in a landscape of repeating yet irregular columns that seemingly continue endlessly into the sea. 

The journey continued to the Carrick-A-Rede where a rope bridge has connected Carrick island to the mainland of Scotland for nearly 350 years. The brige itself has of course been replaced and re-replaced since its original establishment, but at 100 feet above the crashing sea through a channel of high winds it is a unique way to experience the Irish coast alongside high cliffs.

The day ended in Bushmills which is home to the famous Irish whiskey distillery named after the town. Bushmills whiskey has been distilled continuously since 1608 and is transported all over the world today.